Is it a legal swap? Im assuming its not as it is a truck block. Do the refs look at the block numbers? Would it be easy to sneak it through and get it refed? I know all it would take is a magnet to notice its not right.

 

I can't answer the question if they look at block numbers, or sneaking through, but from a CA legal swap standpoint, no, I believe you can not use a Truck engine in a Car and/or a Car engine in a Truck (something about the gross vehicle weight).

If by some chance it's not a problem and you're putting LS1 parts, you will need all of the original equipment that came with it; EGR, AIR, 4-O2s, CATS, PCM, Sensor (Gas tank pressure) and anything else that is related that could throw a CEL code, not to mention CARB #'s for all your aftermarket stuff.

 

I am lost at which route I want to go engine wise. I lean towards LsX for power and reliability, but look at 383'S and porting my heads for ease of swapping, but suffer reliability and gas mileage.

 

Seems to me that those 2 items are out the window once you get serious about modifying and racing an older car.

A 2nd vehicle for a DD almost becomes a necessity for reliability and really good mileage. Don't get me wrong I'm all for LSX swaps obviously, but not for mileage, or reliability per se.

I drive my 4th gen to work everyday. The 17-18 in the city ain't a big deal, although the highway mileage is decent in the mid-low 20's. Probably better once I tune it.

 

Well your deffinately sacrificing fuel mileage with a carb setup. But carb's provide better HP numbers so yeah. Is cost a problem? It'd be cheaper to do a carb 383 with some AFR's 220 cc. 10 mpg if you are lucky...

 

I'm doing a 6.0 swap on my 78 Trans Am. The only ID #'s on the L blocks will be hidden by the trans. You can call it what you want but, what ever year/engine it is has to have that years smog equipt.
The fuel tank and evap is going to be the biggest problem.

 

I'd have to disagree. Carb may make more HP than a TPI, but apples to apples think F.I. would produce better numbers due to more precise tuning.

 

 

...or worse numbers thanks to imprecise tuning / lack of tuners

Carb. So easy to tune, a caveman could do it.

 

I was reading up on some ref stories, and I find most DO use a magnet to check. They can't take stuff off your car to check and whats in the way is in the way. But I have heard quite a few horror stories involving magnets and LsX stories.

 

I just saw a guy the other day in this mean 00 WS6 and I knew that thing wasn't stock so I asked him what he had and he did the LQ4 swap with LS1 accessories I believe but a different intake. I also asked him if he was able to pass smog still and from what he told me there is no problems.

 

Well they have no reason to check his block right? It looks like its an LS1 in there still. I dont know why you'd get rid of the aluminum block for a steel block. He wanted the steel block because it was easy/cheaper to modify or something? I dunno. But as far as visual. They'd have no reason to check it at a normal smog station.

 

my understanding is you can swap a newer engine into a older car as long as all the diagniostics work and have all the emmissions equpiment installed.

 

The problem he is having is that you have to use the exhaust and evap system off the truck/vehicle the engine came out of. So I am not sure on where the evap canister. But Ramair21 had to use the 4th generation fuel tank on his Ls1 swap. It'd be hard to put a truck fuel tank into a camaro if he had too. Again I dont know all the rules myself, but I believe those are some.

 

Who says you have to do anything?

If it looks like it is the right one, it should skate, no two refs are the same.

 

I agree. If it passes the emission test and has all the necessary hookups, shouldn't be a problem.

Will